Coin operated mailing machine



April 6, L A THATCHER 2,315,828

com OPERATED MAILING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1959 e sheets-sheet 1 ATTOR N EY April 6, 1943. L. A. THATCHER 2,315,828

COIN OPERATED MAILING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1959 6 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY April 6, 1943. L. A. THATCHER COI'N ODERATED MAILING MACHINE Filed Ma'ron 25, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 fha/91V 2057@ i246 BY ATTORNEY y April 6, 1943. l.. A. THA'rcHER COIN OPERATED MAILING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1939 6 Sheets-Shee 4 lNvE TOR ATTORN EY f1 6, 1943. l.. A. THATCHER COIN OPERATED vMAILING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 69 1943. L. A. THA'rcHr- 'R 2,315,828

Y GOIN OPERATED MAILING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1959 6' Sheets-Sheet 6 22.6: ,226 ,ZZ- 235 [2% 227 Y a A, dw. I

ATTORNEY v.

Patented Apr. 6, 1943 COIN OPERATED MAILING MACHINE Linden A. Thatcher, Stamford, Conn., assgnor to Pitney-Bowes Postage Meter Company, Stamford, Conn.,;a corporation of Delaware Application .March 25, 1939, Serial No. 264,055

2 Claims. @L10I- 273) This invention relatesto a coin operated -machine for the printing of 4postage `upon letters. One object of the invention is to provide a novel form of printing device wherein the printing -dies are xedly positioned and wherein animpression is obtained by rolling a roller platen device across the backof -a letter while the lefter is positioned with the front face thereof opposite the type surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coin slide control means which through its sliding stroke is adapted to adjust a value printing die to a printing position `inaccordance with the value of the coin or coins Vinserted in one or more coin slides.

Another object of the invention is to provide adjustable date wheels for the postmark die and means to adjust said type wheels which are adapted to be conveniently manipulated from a position accessible through an opening in the casing ofthe machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the letter is automatically moved to the proper printing relation with the printing dies before printing is effected.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, itA

being understood that various changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in lthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 'l is a plan view of the mechanism looking inside the upper cover of the casing with said casing in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary'detail View `showing a I plan view of the portion of the mechanism positioned beneath the oor of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view on `an enlarged scale taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed operation view showing the setting of the value printing member by means of one of the coin slides;

Fig.v 7 is a fragmentary plan operational view showing Vthe position of certain parts after the letter door has opened andfshowing 1a letter in position for printing;

Fig. 8 is a view similar t'o Fig. 7 showing the position of parts indicated 'in Fig. 7 rduring a printing operation;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail View taken alongthe lines 9 9 of Fig. 4;.and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view ofthe vdater setting members looking in the'direction of the arrow I0,Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings vin detail, a casing I0 is arranged to enti-rely lenclose the machine and is adapted to rest upon 'a suitable receptacle II, into which :the letters `are `adapted to be automatically deposited a'fter printing. Coin slides I2 and I3, which may be `of any `conventional or commercial type,v are mounted Within the front wall yof the ycasing I andare adapted to be manipulatedfrom v.a position outside of the casing when acoin is placed therein. 'A oor It, Xed within the casing structure at .a position above the base thereof, has rigidly secured thereto an indicia printing die I5and apostmark die I6. A value type wheel I1 is rotatablyzmounted within the indicia die I5, said 'type wheel being nxed to a shaft I's suitably supportedin bearings I9 and 2I, Fig..5, xed within the floor It and a bracket 22 respectively. VAt 'the lower end ofthe shaft I8 is `apinion23 which'meshes with a gear 24 'fixed `to the lower end of Ya shaft 25. Shaft 25 is also carri-ed'in suitable bearings 26 and '21, secured within'the oor Iii andbracke't 22 respectively. Aratchet wheel 28 is'nxed to the upper end `of said shaft25. Rotation of said ratchet wheel 28 will therefore e'iTect rotation and setting of the value type wheels I'I.

Coin controlled valuertype setting It will now be shown how .the 4drive of said ratchet wheel 28 and the'setting. of the value type Vwheel are effected by means of the coin -slides when one oi said `slides is pushed inward -to deposit a coin, which had beenpreviously inserted therein, into a suitable coin'receptacle 29 posiunit of lower denomination is adapted to advance the ratchet wheel 28 in single steps, Whereas the unit of higher denomination is adapted to advance said ratchet wheel in double steps. These steps may be varied in accordance with the denominations of coins which it is desired to use. The present machine, being designed for use in the British ypostal service, is provided with coin units which are adapted to receive a half-penny in the unit I2 and a penny in the unit I3. Each of said coin units is provided with a slide 31 for the unit I2 and a slide 38 for the unit I3, which slides are common to all units of this type and are adapted to be moved rearwardly into the machine when a coin of proper denomination is inserted therein. If the coin meets a required standard for which the unit is designed, the slide is adapted to be moved inward, as for example, to the position shown by slide 31, Fig. 6. I

Below the slide 31 is a short slide 39 which has a pin 4I projecting upwardly therefrom and in alignment with a slotted portion 42 in the slide 31. During the forward movement of the upper slide, the pin 4I, which normally is in contact with the forward end of the slot 42, will be engaged by the rearward end of said slot to thereby eiect movement of the short slide 39 to the position indicated in Fig. 6. During the forward movement of said short slide 39, a downwardly projecting portion 43 of said pin 4I will engage o the lever 35 at a position which will rock said lever about its pivot 38 a suflicient distance to cause the bellcrank 33 and pawl 3l to advance the ratchet wheel 28 one step and consequently advance the value type wheel one step or to the iirst value type portion or half-penny position.

In a like manner, the slide 38 of the lcoin unit I3 is adapted to be moved forward to cause a downwardly projecting pin portion 44 to engage with the lever 35 at 44a, which will effect a greater arc of movement of the lever-35 about the pivot and consequently cause the pawl 3l to advance the ratchet wheel 28 two steps and advance the value type wheel two steps or to the one-penny position.

Means is provided to prevent the operation of one slide when the other is being operated. Said means comprises an oiY-center spring controlled lever 45, which is pivoted at 46 on a pin extending downwardly from a 'bracket 41 iixed to the coin units I2 and I3. A pin 48, projecting upwardly from said lever 45 and through a slot 49 in said bracket 41, lies either in the path of a cam Ylug 5I on the slide 38 or a cam lug 52 on the slide I2, and is maintained in either of said positions by means of a spring 53. As shown in Fig. 6, said pin 48 is in the path of the cam lug 5I. In Jthis position free movement of the slide 31 is permittedA but movement of the slide 38 is obstructed. The latter condition results from the fact that a pin 49 on the lever 45 will engage an abutment lug 54 on lever 35, upon the initial movement of slide 38, owing to the camming action of lug 5I and its tendency to rock the lever 45. The pin 48 will engage the opposite side of the lug 54 if the slide 38 is manipulated first and an `attempt is made to manipulate the other slide 31.

After each printing operation the value printing type Wheel is normally returned to the blank position shown in Fig. 1. The means for maintaining said type wheel in its blank position comprises a disc member 55, Figs. 5 and 6, which is fixed to the ratchet wheel shaftv 25 and is normally urged to rotate in a counter-clockwise directlon by means of a spring 56. Movement of said disc member is limited in one direction by the engagement of an ear 51 thereon with a pin 58, which extends downwardly from the bracket 22, Fig. 5. In the setting of the value type wheels to the desired value, several operations of the coin slides may be required before the desired value type is in printing position. To hold the type wheel in position when each step of a setting operation is performed, a backstop pawl 59 is provided, as best shown in Fig. 6, which pawl is adapted to function in `conjunction with a series of lpins 6I projecting upwardly from the upper face of the disc member 55, Fig. 5. The pawl 59 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 62, which projects downwardly from the bracket 22, and is normally urged to rotate in a clockwise direction about said `pin by means of a spring 63. The said pawl 59 is normally held out of engagement with the pin GI by means of a cam member 64 as best shown in Fig. 1. The cam member 54 is fixed to a sleeve 65 Fig. 5, which sleeve is freely mounted upon the ratchet wheel shaft 25 and is provided with a notch 55 and cam portion 61 along one end thereof, and further has a tail portion 58.

In the position shown in Fig, l, which illustrates the normal home position of the mechanism, the pawl 59 is shown in a position withdrawn from the path of the pins 6I, with a pin B9 on said pawl lodged in the notch 56 of the cam member 64. When a setting operation occurs however, as indicated in Fig. 6, either of the slides, which in this instant is the slide 31, upon being pushed into the machine during a setting operation, will cause the said cam member 64 to be-moved in a clockwise direction about its axis by means of the motion of a link member 1 I, Figs. 1 and 6, when a pin 12 on the outer end of lever 35 engages and rocks a rocker lever 13. As best shown in said Figs. 1 and 6, it will be seen that one end of the link 1I is connected with the tail portion 68 of the cam member 64, while the opposite end is connected with one end of the rocker lever 13 through a pin and slot connection 14. Normally the pin 12 on lever 35 will be in the position shown in Fig. 1, and upon movement of the lever 35 by means of the coin slide 31, said pin upon passing the end of the rocking lever 13 will eiect the rocking action of said lever 13, which in turn will cause the link 1I to move and thereby rock the cam member 54 to the position shown in Fig. 6. Further setting operations by either of the two coin units may be continued until the desired value is set up in the type wheel I1.

Letter door and compartment The rocking of the rocking lever 13 during an initial setting operation, as described above, also controls the opening of a letter slot door 15. Referring to Fig. l, it will be seen that the rocker lever 13 is connected with a door stop lever 16 by means of a link 11, and upon rotation of the lever 13 through the engagement of pin 12 therewith, the .door stop will be rocked. .The door` stop lever 16 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 81 and is normally urged into its stop position against a stop pin 89 by means of a spring 88. The door 15 is mounted on a vertical stud 92 and is adapted to be urged for movement in a-clockwise direction by means of a spring 93.' It is normally retained in a closed position however, by the engagement of a pin 94 thereon with the end of the stop lever 15. When the stop lever 16 is withdrawn from the path of the pin S4, as

Varsiiaeas a result of the Arocking ofthe lever 13, in the manner described above, the door will be drawn to an .open position .by means of the spring 93 against a .door stop 95, as indicated in the positionshown in Fig, 7.

Directly back of the door, in the position shown in Fig. l, is a compartment which is sufficiently large for the insertion -of an operators hand therein. Said compartment is enclosed by walls 96--96 which lie at-right angles to the front wall of the casing, also by angularly disposed walls 91 and 93. The angular wall S8 is hinged upon a shaft 99 and the free end thereof is adapted to be adjusted to one .of two positions, the one position being that shown in Fig. 1 and the other being that shown in Fig. 7. Adjustment of said wall .98 to either of the above named positions is accomplished by means of an arm which is xed to the wall structure 98 and has -a roller |92 thereon. Said wall 98 and arm |0| .are normally urged to rotate in a clockwise direction about the shaft S9 by means of a spring |413 whereby the roller |02 is maintained in continuous engagement with the cam edge of a cam member |04, formed as a part of the upper portion of the door structure 15. When the door opens, as in the manner explained above, the cam |04 will slide over the roller |02 and when said door nally reaches its stop position, a projection IE5 on said cam will have moved the roller |02 and arm IDI outward to cause the free end of the wall 9S to move inward. In said latter position the free end of the wall is spaced a predetermined distance from the inner end of the wall 91, which distance is maintained while the door remains open to provide a gauge for the purpose of limiting the thickness of letters inserted therebetween when moving said letters to a printing position.

Another wall I5@ forms a continuation of thewall 91 and provides a backing means against which the letters may bear during a printing operation. A back wall lil? is also provided, which will will also act as a stop for the leading end of the letter to correctly position said letter for the printing of the stamp impressions thereon. Suitable openings HiB- ISS are pro-vided in the side wall l through which the indicia die I5 and the postmark die i5 may project.

Printing device Y Printing is accomplished by means of a pair of platen rollers lil-HI, which are rotatably mounted in supporting bars H12-H2 positioned .at either side thereof and the whole is linked to direction against the pressure of a compression spring |24 around said tie rod,

The lower toggle link |13 is also linked to one arm |25 of a bell crank |25 by means -of a link |21. which shaft is suitably mounted in bearing |29. The other arm |31 of said bell crank |26 is secured to one end of a hook shaped lever 1&3. The other end of said lhooked lever is secured to a disc |34, which disc is fixed to a shaft |35. Said shaft Said bellcrank |26 is Xed. to a shaft |28,

|35 is .suitably mounted in bearings ISS- |31 and .has a bevel `pinion |38 secured thereto, which pinion meshes with arbevel gear |39. The gear |39 is carried bya drive shaft |.4 l, which shaft is supported in suitable bearings |42|43 and is provided with .a crank |44 at the outer ,end thereof. Said crank is arranged to provide for 18) degrees rotation of the shaft |35, which, owing.

to the ratio 4of the gears |38-|39, will require a stroke of 90 degrees for the crank |44. By means of teeth |45 on the disc |34 and a pawl |46 which is adapted to engage said teeth |45, the said `crank |44 must complete a full stroke before it maybe returned to its initial starting position.

`During'the operating stroke of the crank |44, the disc |34 and hooked lever |33 joined thereto will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to also effect rotation of the bell crank |26. in a counter-clockwise direction. The arm |25 of said bell crank |26 will therefore pull the link |21 rearward and effect the roclnng of the toggle link ||3 to cause the platen rollers to move into contact with and across the back of the letter as shown in Fig. 2.

Movable letter platform After the door 15 opens a letter L is inserted. The lower edge of the letter normally rests upon a preferably corrugated surface of a movable platform U18, such as shown in Fig. '1. The said platform |48 is movable to provide for the release of the letter into a letter drop or receptacle after a printing operation is eiTected, and is further movable in an endwise direction to place the leading end of the letter against the back stop wall |61 before printing is effected. The

structure of said platform |48 is best shown. in Fig. 4, in which it is indicated in a letter releasing position after a printing operation is effected. Said platform |48 is supported by the engagement of two end flanges Illa-|49 with screw portions |5|l5| of a supporting rod l52. The rod |52 is supported in brackets lait-|53 and is adapted to receive endwise movement when the door 15 i-s opened, which movement will cause the screw portions lai-l5! thereof to rock the platform |48 to a horizontal position. Said endwise movement of the rod |52 is effected by means of the engagement of the end of a lever |54 with a pin |55, projecting from said rod |52, when the lever |54 is rocked. The lever |54 is xed to the shaft `99, previously described. At the upper end of said shaft 99 is a lever |55, Fig. 1, which has a roller |51 at the end thereof engaging the edge of the cam Y| U4, which cam' forms part of the door struc* ture 15, as previously described. Upon the'rocking Of said door toits open position, the cam |94 will'effect movement of the leverv |56 in a clockwise direction, thereby rocking said shaft S9 and 'effecting a like movement of the lever |54, Fig. 4.

Movement-of vsaid latter lever |54 in a clockwise direction willtherefore effect the'endwise movement of the rod |52 to rock the platform |48to its horizontal position. Upon movement of said rod,

a latch |51, Fig. 4, will be drawn toward the rod by means of spring |58 to effect the latching of a shoulder portion |59 thereof with the edge of one flange |49 of said platform 48. The platform vwill thus remain in its horizontal position while the latch |51 remains in engagement with the ange |63.

If the operator should Afail to insert the Vletter L entirely to the back stop wall |61, means is provided to give the letter an initial rearward movement before a printing operation occurs, to thereby ensure that the said letter will have its for- Ward or leading end in contact with the back stop wall. Said means, which is best shown in Figs. 4 and 9, comprises a bell crank |6| which is pivot'ally mounted upon a stud |62 carried by bracket |63. A roller |64, mounted at the end of one arm of said bell crank |6|, is normally maintained in engagement with a cam |65 bythe tension of a spring |66. A pin |61, at the end of the other arm of said bell crank IEI, normally lies within a groove |68 provided in a curved overhang portion |69 of the platform |48. Upon rotation of the cam |65, which is fixed to the drive shaft |4|, the bell crank I6| will be rocked in a clockwise direction to thereby effect a rearward movement of the platform |48. By means of the engagement of the roller |64 with the dwell |86 on said cam |65, the platform will be maintained in its rearward position until a printing operation is completed.

Door closing means Door closing means is provided to close the door during a machine cycle of operation. Said means comprises a pair of levers |1| and |12, Figs. 1 and 8, which are freely mounted upon the shaft 92. The lever |1| has a pin |13 projecting downwardly therefrom against which a finger portion |14 of said lever |12 is maintained by means of a spring |15. The lever |1| also has a nger portion |16 which is engaged by the pin 94 on the door when the door is in the open position, as shown in Fig. 7. The lever |12 is connected with a lever |18 by means of a link |11. Said lever |18 is fixed to a shaft |19, whichshaft is mounted in bearings |8||6| in the roof and ioor of the casing structure. Also fixed to said shaft |19 is a lever |82, which lever is joined to the previously described link |21 by a link |36. Therefore, upon movement of the link |21 to effect movement of the platen rollers, in the manner previously described, the said lever |82 will be rocked in a clockwise direction to rock the shaft |16 and consequently effect the rocking of lever |12 in a counter-clockwise direction. Rocking of said latter lever |12 will, through the pull of the spring |15, cause the finger |16 of lever |1| to move the pin 84, and consequently said door 15, in a counter-clockwise direction to close said door. If the operator should happen to have his hand in the opening between the walls 96-66 while the door is closing, the spring connection |15 will yield to thus prevent injury to the operator. Y

The resetting of the door stop 15 is accomplished near the end of the cycle of operation. Included in the mechanism which is provided for accomplishing this resetting operation, is a rocker arm |83, Fig. 2 which is Xed to thedriven shaft |35. A wing |84 projects upward from said arm |83, and when the, crank |44 is moved forwardly, the arm |83 will be rocked in a counterclockwise direction. On the return stroke of said arm |63, the wing portion |84 will engage the en |85 of a rocker lever |86 which is pivotally mounted on the tail portion 63 of the cam: mem'- ber 64. Said lever |86 is normally urged against a stop pin |81 by means of a spring |88 and, by means of said latter connection, is adapted to yield upon the movement of the wing vportion |84 of arm |83 past the end |85 on the forward stroke of the crank |44. On the return stroke of the crank |44, the Wing portion ,|84 will engage with the end |65 of the lever |86, to rock the cam member 64 to its home position. Also, through the connection of the link 1 I with the tail portion 68, the rocking of the cammember 54 will effect the return of said link 1| and lever 13 to their home positions. The return of said lever 13 to its home position will thus free the link 11, which is connected through the pin and slot connection 18 to the outer end thereof, and permit the stop lever 16 to be returned .to its stop position through the action of spring 88.

Upon movement of the cam member 64 to its home position the pawl 58 is released from engagement with the pins 6| and the disc 55 is adapted to return to its normal home position under the influence of spring 56. This will consequently restore the type wheer |1 to its normal home position.

To prevent the manual operation of the crank |44 during a value setting operation a shutter member |89, Figs. 5 and 6 is provided, which shutter is fixed to the bellcrank 33 by means of a rivet |66. Said bellcrank 33, it will be recalled, is rocked'during each operation of a coin slide through the lever and link connections 35 and 36. The shutter |88 is also freely positioned on the shaft 25 and the shutter end thereof is adapted to move into the path of the wing portion |84 of arm |63, as shown in Fig. 6, when a coin slide is operated. Any attempt to move the crank |44 under the above condition will be blocked by the engagement of the wing |84 with said shutter. When the coin slide is withdrawn, the shutter |88 will also be withdrawn from the path of the wing |84, as shown in Fig. l. Withdrawal of the coin slides may be effected by means of a spring 266.

Date setting device Means is also provided for simplifying the operation of setting the date and hour type in the postmark die i6, Fig. 2. A series of type wheels ISI are mounted upon a shaft |92 within the postmark die i6. The type portions of said type Wheels are preferably shaped in the form of gear teeth and have type provided thereon in the order indicated in Fig. 3, i. e. the first two type wheels at the left indicate the days, the third type wheel contains twelve roman numerals indicating the month, and the fourth type wheel may if it is deemed necessary, contain hour type. Each of said type wheels is normally maintained in a locked position by means of a bail |63, which bail is xed to a shaft |64, suitably supported` in a bracket |65. A lever |66, also fixed to said shaft |94 has one end secured toa wing |91 of a vertically disposed and manually operable slide member |88. Said lever |66 is further urged for movement about the axis of said shaft |84 in a counter-clockwise direction by means of a spring |68, which action also urges the bail |83 into locked engagement with the teeth of the type wheels |6|. The slide |98 is suitably mounted upon pins 26|-26I and is` provided with a depresser finger 262, which finger is adapted to be conveniently reached through an opening 263 in the roof of the casing. The said opening 263 is in the form of a. hand hole which is provided by means of a flanged portion 264 and is normally covered by means of a hood'265.

Each type wheel |9| has a gear sector 266 associated therewith, which sectors are mounted upon a shaft 261 supported by the bracket |95. Also fixed to each sector 265 is an index sector 268, whereby the gear sectors may be manually rocked to set the type wheels |6| to their desired positions. The peripheral surface of each index sector is marked with the characters designating the characters of the type wheels, as shown in Fig. 10, and are so arranged that when the sector is moved to bring any of the characters in alignment with a straight edge portion- 209, of a bracket 2|0, the said characters will appear in printing position on the said type wheels |9l.

To perform a setting operation, the nger 202 on slide |98 is depressed to release the bail |93 from contact between the teeth or type members of the wheels |9|, to thereby permit the manipulation of the index sectors by the operator to bring the desired type characters into printing position. Upon the release of the depressor 1inger 202, the bail |93 will again move into locking engagement with the type wheels |9|.

I nlcing Any suitable form of inking means may be provided, a preferred form however being a ribbon inking device. Said inking device comprises two ribbon spools 2li-212, Fig. 3, which arel rotatably mounted upon a shaft 2|3, carried by a bracket 2| 4. One of said spools 2 |2 is the'supply spool, and the ribbon R is led therefrom upwardly at a vertical direction across the face ofl the indicia and value printing type |5, then is suitably woven through angular openings 2|5'- 2|5 of a plate which forms the side wall |05, and passes downwardly across the postmark die face IB to the spool 2| l. As indicated in the drawings, a thumb knob 2|6 is provided on the receiving spool 2H, whereby the ribbon' may be advanced on said spool whenever desired. Any conventional automatic ribbon feeding device maybe provided if desired.

Letter clamp Means may also be provided for clamping a letter by applying pressure to the back thereof during a printing cycle of operation ii' desired. Said means which is best shown in Figs. 1 and 8, comprises a pressure bar 2H having a foot 2|8 thereon, and is mounted so as to permit horizontally slidable movement by means of pin and slot connections 2|9-2I. Said bar 2H issecured to one end of a lever 22|, which is freely mouned upon the shaft |19, and is yieldably connected with one end of lever |82 by means of a spring 222. When the lever |82 is rocked during a printing operation, the pressure foot 2|8 will be moved into engagement with the letter L, and upon engaging same the spring 222 will yield while the printing stroke of the platen rollers is eiected.

Cmnlc locking device A crank locking device is also provided which prevents the operation f the crank |44 until the letter door 75 opens. Said device includes a hooked arm 223, Fig. 4, which is pivotally mounted upon a stud 2213 and has a hooked end 225, normally engaging a pin 226 projecting from the disc |3fl. A lever` 227, also freely mounted upon the stud 22e, is connected with lever |54 by means of a link 228. Upon rotating the shaft 5S, as above described, the lever` 221 is rotated in a clockwise direction and by means of a shoe 229 on an arm 233, which forms a part of said lever 227 and is engaged with the hooked arm 223, the said arm 223 is rocked to release the hooked end thereof from engagement with the pin 226. When the pin 226 engages the beveled portion of the hooked end 225 of arm 223 on the return stroke of the disc |34, the said arm will yield under the Ytension of a spring 23|.

v Operaiion In the operation of the machine, a' coin is inserted in either of the coin' slides l2 or |3, after whicheither slide 31 or 38 may be moved inward to deposit the coin within the machine. Movement of the coin slide will effect the opera- 'ti'on of the value type wheel setting mechanism inV a manner shown in Fig. 6'.l If the slide 3'| of the unit |25 is actuated, the pawlf 3|- will drive the ratchet wheel 28 in a clockwise direction the distance of one tooth space,v which inturn will advance the'va-'lu'e type' wheel I'l' one unit of space or from one typeface tothe next.v This operation may bc continued by the insertion of further coins in the unit |2'andpushing the slide inward after the insertionof each coin, which operations will continue to advance the ratchet wheelZ in single steps of `movement. If however a coin is inserted in the unit I3, the slider` and parts associated therewith will cause the actuating lever 35 to be moved through a greater angle than effected by the slide 37', a-n'd thereby eiect the setting ofthe ratchet wheel' 2S in units o1- distance twice that eiected by the slide' 3l.

AlsoI upon the initial movement of either of the slide members to anA actuating position, the pin |2 on lever`35y will rock' the leverv 'I3V to effect disengagement-of thedoor stop lever 16 fron'ithe pin 34 on said door, whereuponV the door willfbe pulled to an open position by means ofthe spring 93.- During the opening movement of said door, two elementsare controlled by meansof acarn member Ilia. One of said elements' is the letter supportingplatform |48, which 1s normally' in the dropped or open-position shownn- Fig. 2'a'nd is raisedV to a letter! supp'orting'- position before the do'or is completely' opened.` Said control is effected by means or' the engagement'- or the raised` portion lili)l o'fthe cam with the roller |51 tov rock' the leverV |56 and shaft 59, which finally causes alever |54, Fig. 4, to rockthe platforniV supporting rod |52 rearwardly. This will eiect rotation ofthe platform to' a horizontal position as the screw portion |5|'-|5| is moved through thescrew openings in the end flanges Ida-|43 of the said platform; Th second element-Which?" iscont/rolledE by thev movement ofthe' door is-'the'f letter gauge" meanslor wall 9'8which is rocked inwardly from the position of Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 7, by means of the engagement of the raised portion |55 of the cam |04 with the roller |02 of lever |0I, the said lever Il being directly attached to the wall 98.

The door now being open, a letter is adapted to be inserted within the opening between the walls 96-96 and moved back into the slot, formed between the Wall |06 and the end of the gauge wall 98, to a printing position. The opening between the walls 96-96 is sufiiciently large for a person to insert his hand, so as to conveniently move the leading end of the letter in correct printing position against the back stop wall lill.

After a letter is inserted, the machine is ready for a printing operation. The operator therefore grips the crank |44 and pulls same forwardly through an arc of about degrees, which action effects a drive of the bevel gear unit, Fig. 2, indicated at |38|39, to rotate the shaft |35 and effect rocking of the lever |25, Fig. 1. The rocking of said lever |25 will in turn eiect movement of the toggle links ||3|| 3, and also will rock the shaft |19 through lever |82 which is connected with the link |30. By means of the motion of links ||3||3, the platen rollers are moved into engagement with the back of the letter and are further rolled thereacross under presence of spring |24, to press the letter rmly against the type sections of the indicia and postmark dies I5 and I6 respectively. The crank |44 is reciprocated forwardly then rearwardly, therefore, the platen rollers III-III will receive a forwardly and rearwardly stroke across the back of the letter. To prevent the letter from moving during a printing operation, pressure is applied to the letter by means of the pressure foot 2|8.

Movement of the shaft |19 will effect the rocking of lever |18 which is secured thereto, and, through the link |11, levers I1I|12 and spring |15, the door will be drawn to a closed position.

On the return stroke of said crank |44 the various mechanisms are restored to their normal home positions. Pawl 59 which had been maintained in a ratcheting position with respect to the pins 6| on the disc 55, Fig. 6, is released when the cam portion 61 of the cam member 64 is rocked past the pin 69 on said pawl. This is effected when the end |85 of lever |86 is engaged by the wing |84 of the rocker arm |83 on its return stroke in a counter-clockwise direction. The latter operation thus effects the rocking of the cam member 64 which, through link 1 I, lever 13 and link 11 secured thereto, will effect the resetting of the door stop lever 16 to a stop position behind the pin 94.

On the forward stroke of the crank |44, the ca-m |65, Figs. 4 and 9, through the assistance of the bell crank IBI, will effect a rearward movement of the platform |48 a predetermined distance, to provide for rearward movement of the letter against the back stop. This insures that the said letter is in a proper position for printing if the operator should not properly insert the letter in the machine. During the period after the roller |64, Fig. 9, leaves the dwell |88 of the cam |65, which occurs at the end of the cycle of machine operation, the platform |48 is moved forwardly by the action of the bellcrank IGI. During said latter movement, a tail portion |60 on the latch lever |51, Fig. 4, will engage a pin |10, to thereby rock the latch about its pivot and break the engagement thereof with the flange |49, whereupon the platform |48 is rocked downwardly to the position of Fig. 2, when the rod |52 is moved forward under the influence of spring |50 to thereby permit the letter' to fall into the letter receiving receptacle II. The letter is of course free to drop by this time due to the pressure foot 2|8 and hinged wall 98 having been returned to their normal positions. The forward motion of the rod |52 will also effect the rocking of lever |54 through pin |55 and thereby effect the setting of the hooked end 225 of the arm 223 in a latching position with relation to the pin 226. This will lock the crank until a new selection is made by means of the coin Slides.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described for printing a stamp impression upon letters, a printing die, a platen member, means for supporting a letter on edge in a vertically disposed position between the printing die and platen member, a stop positioned in the path of the leading edge of the letter, said letter supporting means having longitudinal movement toward the stop to advance the leading edge of a letter thereagainst before printing, and having rocking movement to release the letter therefrom to space therebelow after printing, and a drive including connections with said letter supporting means to effect each of the advancing and rocking movements.

2. In a device of the character described for printing a stamp impression upon letters, a printing die having a vertically disposed die face, a platen member, means for supporting a letter on edge adjacent the printing die, a stop positioned in the path of the leading edge of the letter, means to effect forward motion of the letter supporting means to advance the leading edge of a letter against the stop before printing, and means to effect rocking motion of the letter supporting means along a longitudinal axis to release the letter therefrom to space therebelow after printing, and a drive including connections with said letter supporting means to effect each of the advancing and rocking movements.

LINDEN A. THATCHER. 

